I love the attitude of the people toward the wonderful Word of God that is shown in Nehemiah 8:1-8:
1 THEN ALL the people gathered together as one man in the broad place before the Water Gate; and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. 2 And Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of both men and women and all who could hear with understanding, on the first of the seventh month. 3 He read from it, facing the broad place before the Water Gate, from early morning until noon, in the presence of the men and women and those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden pulpit which they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5 Ezra opened the book in sight of all the people, for he was standing above them; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, lifting up their hands; and they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah--the Levites--helped the people to understand the Law, and the people [remained] in their place. 8 So they read from the Book of the Law of God distinctly, faithfully amplifying and giving the sense so that [the people] understood the reading.
Notice in verse that the people ASKED for Ezra to bring the "Book of the Law of Moses", or "The Word of God", so that they could be taught! Verse 3 tells us that Ezra read from the Word of God "from early morning until noon" and "all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law"! When was the last time that YOU were in a service that went from early morning until noon and EVERYONE stayed attentive? These people had such a hunger for the Word because they had been without it! Verse 5 tells us that when the Word of God was opened, all of the people stood up! They then worshiped the Lord and verse 7 tells us that "the people remained in their place"! They desired to hear the Word read and taught and they received what they were believing for! Verse 8 tells us that the people understood! If we truly desire, as Paul did in Philippians 3:10, to know HIM more, it will require this kind of attention and commitment found in Nehemiah today! But remember the promise for those who will spend the necessary time to mediate the Word and get it on the inside of us! Look at Joshua 1:8:
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.
AMP
Begin today to "make your way prosperous"! You WILL have good success at whatever you do and God will get the GLORY! AMEN! I want to leave you today with this very powerful song of commitment by Hillsong United called "Oceans - Where Feet May Fail":
Shalom in Him!
